Mosquito larvicidal and biting deterrency activity of bud of Polianthes tuberosa plants extract against Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus

To evaluate the larvicide and biting deterrency activity of bud of Polianthes tuberosa (P. tuberosa) against Culex quinquefasciatus (Cx. quinquefasciatus) and Anopheles stephensi (An. stephensi). Crude and solvent extract [ethyl acetate, chloroform: methanol (1:1, v/v), acetone] of fresh, mature, bud of P. tuberosa was tested against Cx. quinquefasciatus and An. stephensi. The repellent activity tested by chloroform: methanol (1:1, v/v) solvent extract against both mosquito species. The appropriate lethal concentrations at 24 h for chloroform: methanol (1:1, v/v) extract was also studied on non target organisms such as Toxorhynchites larvae, Diplonychus annulatum and Chironomus circumdatus. In a 72 h bioassay experiment, 0.5 % crude extract showed the highest mortality and chloroform: methanol (1:1, v/v) solvent extract showed the highest mortality, the maximum (P < 0.05) mortality was recorded at a concentration of 60 mg/L. The chloroform: methanol (1:1, v/v) solvent extract provide 4 h protection against Cx. quinquefasciatus and 5 h against An. stephensi from biting. Both crude and chloroform: methanol (1:1, v/v) extract showed efficient activity against Cx. quinquefasciatus, so it could be used as a mosquito larvicide agent. There is no change in the activity of non-target organism so, it is safe to use.